Wheel construction



Dec. 7 1926.

H. P. ARNT WHEEL CONSTRUCTION Filed June 25, 1921 fie.

fia. V//. 77 7.7

Patented Dec. '7, I926. UNITED STAT 1,609,596 PATENT, oFF- cE- HERALD P. ABNT, bl LAKEWOOD, OHIO, ASSIGNOB OF ONE-FOI J'RTH TO C UBT B.

. MULLER, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

wmann cous'rnucrron Application filed June- 23,

My invention relates to a wheelconstruction and more particularly to the spoke and felly connection of an all-metal wheel.

I am well aware that the prior art patent-. ed vas well as practiced is well developed owing to the growing recognition that the popularity of the wooden wheel, at least for automobiles, is ,on the wane. An important reason for this is the constantly decreasing supply and therefore increasing cost of the wood, notably hickory best adapted for their manufacture. 'It is' moreover now known that metal wheels may be constructed to. have greater strength though less weight in a certain size of wheel.

Metal wheels necessarily comprise "a hub, a felloe and connecting spokes. Tubular spokes have been 'proven to bev entirely feasible and represent the type of spoke construction which I prefer. I have for some time been engaged in the manufacture of allmetal wheels, but am now convinced thatthe trade demand is for a wheel resembling as closely as possible the-conventional design of a wooden wheel. The endeavor to satisfy this demand'ha's however, encountered problems of manufacture and assembly which for the first time have been solved after the manner of my series of inventions, one of which, the resulting structure, constitutes the subject matter of this application.

I realize thatthe scopeofmy- 'invention comprehends many equivalent constructions. The showing of the drawings and the particular description are merely specific exem-. plifications of a plurality of mechanical embodiments and arrangements.

Adverting to the drawings: t

Figure I is an enlarged partial elevation with one-portion in section.

Figure II is a section on line IIII of 1 Figure I.

Figure III is a section on line IIIIII of Figure I.

Figure IV is a section on line IV'-IV of Figure I. k

Figure V is a section on line V-V of Figure I.

. Figure VI is a section on line -VIVIof Figure II.

Figure VII is a section on line VII- .VII of Figure II.

Fi re VIII is a section on line VIII- VII of Figure II. Figure IX is a section corresponding to sitely disposed fiat sides 10 an 1921. Serial No. 479,787.

Figure V of a modified form of spoke adapted to wide wheels.

' Figure X is another section of a modified form of spoke taken through a middle portion of it.,

. A hub 1 is fashioned with an annular flange 2- provided with six circumferentially arrapged and equispaced holes 3. A felloe I 4 adapted for the mounting of a composite or demountable rim'structure, not shown because commonto the art, is provided in its middle portion with twelve circumferential- 1y arranged holes 5 bordered by outwardly directed flanges 5. Tubular spokes 6 tapered in a direction toward the felloe a have their outer ends"? of reduced size to enable them to project through the outwardly flanged holes 5 respectively, preparatory to being expanded, spread, enlarged, or

curled against theflanges 5 at 8 so as to elfect interlocked connections, or the spoke extremities may be spun over to enclose the flanges by' extending across their annular extremities and contacting their outer sides as shown. It will beobserved that the longitudinally curved, tapered exterior surface of each fillet or inclined shoulder 9, which is formed at the junction of the outer end of the middle portion 6 of the spoke with the reduced. portion 5, forms a neat abutting seam with the'rounded defining edge of one of the holes-5, the inner margins of which merge with the inner or concave side of the felloe. Such a fitting between the felloe and spoke alfords a greater area of contact and provides greater strength. It also limits the encountered stress and resulting strains to a curved, surface thereby avoiding the possibility of a metal fracture and the tendency of the reduced end of the spoke to telesco e into'itslarger section, by reason of a istribution of the radial thrusts because the fitting yields during rocking or pivotal motion tendencies in various directions.

The inner or nave ends of the spoke are designed to simulate or resemble the conventional frustro-wedge shaped design of the corresponding end of a wooden .spoke, being fashioned with one parallel pair of oppoanother pair of centrally converging fiat sides 11. The inner ends of the spokes abut the hub 1 while the radial sides 11. abut each other and for a considerable distance. indeed. to points outwardly beyond the edge of the flange 2. As will be observed the outward divarication of the radial sides 11 continues until they span a space exceeding in width the greatest diameter of" the curved portion 6 of the spoke, from which points the sides 11 are curved toward each other to form should rs 12 and then merge all around at 13 with the curved surfaces of the spokes.

Similar in shape to the flange 2 and cooperating to clamp in conjunction with it is a ring 1+ fashioned with circumierentially arranged holes 15 correspondingly located as are the openings I3 so as to be adapted to register therewith. Bolts 16 are then passed through the openings 3 and 15 and through certain of the spokes to be held in place by nuts 17.

It will be observed that the holes 5 in the 'lelloe are bordered by outwardly projecting annular flanges 5 so that if the reduced outer end 7 ot a spoke projects through one of the openings 5 and initia ly a suitable distance outwardly beyond the edge or rim of the flange 5, the extremity of the spoke may be expanded, curled or spun over and inwardly around the rim of the flange. lVhen this occurs, as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art, especially when the nave extremity of the spoke is adequately supported and held against displacement from its proper radial axis, the spoke fillet, formed at the junction of the middle portion 6 with the smaller end 7, will be drawn radially outward tightly against the inner annular surface of the felloe 4, thereby efl ecting a wedge fit and the desirably neat seam which may be readily concealed when the wheel is painted. Practice has however demonstrated that notwithstanding the interlocked connection thus eflected, an infinitesimal yielding or universal pivotal. action therebetween is realized, tending to relieve excessive strains and reduce likelihood of incipient fracture.

I claim 2- 1. In combination, a felloe provided with an outwardly flanged opening, a tubular spoke including a fillet adapted to wedge a at the inner margin of said opening, the outer end of said spoke occupying said opening and its extremity pro ecting outwardly beyond the extremity of said-flange and curled around the latter to seat said fillet against the margin of the opening and to confine the extremity of the flange whereby to interlock the parts;

2. In va wheel. the combination of a felloe provided with an outwardly flanged opening, ant. a tubular spoke projected through said opening and having its outer extremity bent across the edge and against the outer side 0t said flange.

3. In a wheel structure, the combination of a felloe provided with an outwardly flanged opening, and a tubular spoke having a smaller outer end fitted in said flanged opening, the extremity of said Spoke being curled entirely around the extremity of said flange whereby the spoke is lockedagainst perceptibldmovement radially in either direction.

4. In a wheel structure, the combination of an annular 'felloe provided with a round opening the edge of which is also rounded to progressively larger diameter toward the concave side of the 't'clloe, a tubular metal spoke having a smaller outer end occupyin the outer part of said opening and said end being bordered by a fillet fitted in the rounded inner part of said opening, said fillet and the cooperating rounded edge surface of the felloe opening-being designed for limited universal pivotal motion and adapted to distribute shocks and bending strains whereby to avoid fracture of the metal connection.

The combination specified in claim 4 in. which the defining surface of the opening in the felloe is increased by an outwardly extending bordering flange.

6. In a wheel structure, the combination of a felloe provided with an opening the edge of which is rounded to increase its defining area, a hollow metal spoke formed with a filleted outer end cooperating with the rounded edge of the opening to permit a limited universal relative motion between the spoke and felloe whereby to distribute strains and means for securing the end of the spoke in the opening.

7. In a wheel structure, the comb nation of a felloe provided with an opening defined by an outwardly extending flange, a hollow metal spoke having a reduced outer end fitted in said opening and having a fillet contacting the inner margin of the opening and means for securing the end of the spoke in the opening.

8. In a wheel, the combination of a felloe having a round hole bordered by a flange and a hollow spoke fashioned with a smaller outer end inserted in said hole and having an open outer extremity enlarged across the outer margin of the felloe 'hole whereby to interlock the spoke and felloe.

9. In a wheel, the combination of a felloe provided with an opening defined by an outwardly projecting flange,- and a hollow metal spoke projecting through said opening and having its outer extremity bent across the extremity of said flange.

10. In a wheel structure, the combination of a felloe provided with an outwardly .flanged opening of which an inner portion of its edge is rounded, and a tubular spoke having a smaller outer end and having adj acent thereto a fillet of progressively varying cross-sectional dimension, said outer end occupying said opening and fashioned with a spread extremity whereby to interlock the parts while permittiag a slight univemsl pivotal motion.

11. ln'au'wheel, the cdmbination of a fellas having circumferentially arranged hnles 1 bordered by flanges and defined by surfaces merging with the concave side of the felloe,

tion projecfing ia'ismlly and abutting (ma sf said! flanges, each 0f said sgSokes being .cCiT

fashioned with a 5129i diefinfi by a langi'fsudinally cuxved sun-ace in csnfmet one (if said; merging f iesholedefining surfaces. 7 "Sigma? by me *fgnis 21st day of June 1921.

Eh RAKE 

